Leg splint structure



J. R. SIEBRANDT LEG SPLINT STRUCTURE Sept. 1, 1936.

Filed 001;. .13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. John 1?. S/bbtandf ATTORNEY.

Sept. 1, 1936.

J. R. SIEBRANDT LEG SPLINT STRUCTURE Filed bet. 15, 1954 i -2 Sheds- Sheet 2 John E. .Siebmnd ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 iJNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEG SPLINT STRUCTURE John R. Siebrandt, Kansas City, Mo.

- Application October 13, 1934, Serial No. 748,202

9 Claims.

The. present invention relates to surgical apparatus, and has for its object to provide a novel and improved form of traction appliance adapted for use more especially in the reduction of leg fractures-the present application being a continuation, so far as common subject-matter is involved, of my co-pending application Serial No. 520,227, filed March 5, 1931.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to-devise a leg splint structure for application to the patient in a recumbent position and which Will :provide an efiicient and even or uniform cradling support for the entire leg and at the same time permit certain necessary movements for the comfort and welfare of the patient without disturbing the set position of the fracture.

For carrying out this object I have devised a splint structure having suitable supporting means adapted to rest upon a bed or cot and of such a, character as to allow a rocking movement of the splint structure upon that portion of the support which underlies the middle or knee portion: of the splint, whereby the splint may be conveniently rocked in a, forward direction in response to rising movements of the thigh or trunk portion of the patient. In its most efiicie'nt'f'orm the apparatus includes an extension provided with a pelvic plate or rest for supporting engagement with the buttock, for affording the most efiective balance of the appliance with reference to the axis of its movement, as well as insuring as complete immobilization as possible of the limb while supported by the splint and during any movement of the splint itself as permitted by its rocking support.

It is further sought to devise an apparatus in which provision is made in connection with the pelvic'support for affording an abutment for the: counteraction of traction as applied to the upper 40 leg or thigh portion of the patient and thus guarding against any shiftingin the position of,

the patient upon said pelvic seat or support under the influence of traction. or during any moveing feature of the apparatus. 7 I

ment of the patient as provided forby. the rock,

that the operation of said tractive tension is,

exerted uniformly in all the various positions of the appliance.

With the foregoing general objects in view, as well as various other minor objects as will appear in the course of the detailed specification, the 5; invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical and-efiicient form of construction which has been devised for embodying the several features of improvement, after which those features and 10 combinations of parts deemed to be novel will be particularly set forth and claimed.

Inlthe drawings.-

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a splint appliance constructed in accordance with II the present invention, and shown as applied to a bed supporting a patient in reclining position;

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the parts conforming to the movement of the patient in partly raised position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus, removed from the bed;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the pelvic supporting plate in detached relation;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view, representing a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged plan and sectional details of the top portion of the upright frame for anchoring the traction means (Figure 7 representing a section on the line 'l! of Figure 6) Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of one of the connections at the end'of the splint frame for said upright frame;'

Figure 9 is a sectional view, representing a section taken on the line 99 of Figure 3, on a larger scale and showing a front view of the foot rest plate;

- Figure 10 is a detail view showing the adjusting means at the opposite side of said foot rest plate; and

Figures 11 and 12'are enlarged detail views of one of the adjustable connections between the thigh and lower leg portions of the splint frame.

Referring now to said drawings in detail, these illustrate the splint or leg supporting structure as comprising a pair of side rods l5 integrally connected by a transverse rod portion l5 at the foot end of the splint frame, while at the knee portion said rods [5 are provided with hinge brackets l6 formed with rosette clamping faces I! connected by hinge bolts I 8 provided with wing nuts 20 for clamping said brackets in any set angular relation. These brackets l6 provide appropriate connections for the thigh and pelvic portion of the apparatus comprising a plate 22 carried by telescoping tubes 23 and rods 24 connecting with corresponding brackets l6, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, suitable clamping screws 25 being provided at the ends of the tubes 23 for securing the proper length adjustment of this part'of the apparatus according to the patients thigh. As will be noted, the plate 22 is of appropriately curved design to conform to the buttock of the patient, and at one sidecorresponding to the inner side of the thigh'a further pronounced depression is formed, indicated .at 21, to provide a shoulder 28 for abutting en: gagement with the muscular portion at this point, as a means for counteracting the pull of traction as applied to the thigh, as hereinafter I explained. a V

For a further anchorage at this point, for the same purpose, a post may be provided in the form of an upright stem 38 secured at the forward edge of said depression El and fitted with a rubber ferrule 32 as an abutment for the thigh to prevent any. forward-shifting of the patient upon the ja'cent the hinge-bracket l6 and the otheraend being secured some: distance from the foot end :.of the splint frame. The contour of the :frames 34 is such-as to provide moderately curved rocker 2 portions 34 underlying the hinged portions'of the splintframe; thereby. affording a :support which permits the splint to be rocked forwardly and rearwardly in response to. corresponding movements of .thepat'ient but without disturbing the set position of the fracture.

. said lower endportions of the frame 39.

this connection it maybe noted that by looseningof the clips 48 the cross-bar 46 may be adjusted;

. 'Theopposite sidecorners atthe'forward end the splint frameic'omprising the rod portions 15 and i5 are "fitted with angular'corner brackets 38 (which may be welded or soldered to the.

:frame) for the attachment of 'a frame member 39 comprising a .rodbent into shape to. providea narrow upper frame portion 40, with the lower ends .4! of z the rod spread. apart sufficiently for engagement withthe brackets 38., which are pro-:

38, and the latter are formedwith'latch nibs M f-orlatching engagement withsaidlowerend :por-

tions ofjthe frame 39, whereby the latter is main tained' latched in approximately-upright posi-" tion, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

- The lower ends 4520f the :frame -member=39 are braced by a cross-bar 46 threaded at its ends for wing nuts 4? engaging U-shaped clips 48 fitted to said .lower .ends 4l,suitab1e keys 50 being carried by the cross-bar in engagement with the inner sides of the clips 48; whereby. turningof the. nuts it! serves to clamp said clips securely to In uponthe frame 39 as required, or by the loosenbrackets 38 to; enable; the frame to be detached therefrom and conveniently removed from operative position when desired.

15 are secured-' The frame member 39. serves as a framework.

for the mounting of tension or traction pulling means for the application of a tractive pull upon the leg of the patient, either above or below the knee, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. For this purpose the upper end of the frame 39 is fitted with a bracket structure comprising a pair of plates 54-55 adjustably clamped to opposite sides of the frame by means of a bolt 56 and wing nut 51, and the top of the plate 54 is formed with an extension- 58 bent backward through the frame and over the upper edge'of the other plate 55, to provide an attaching means for the anchorage of "the traction means for the lower leg portion of the patient. This traction means comprises a' suitabie dynamometer 6!) attached by an adjust able link 6| andnut 62 to said extension 58, and a cord 63 operating around a pulley 64 journaled on the cross-bar 16 and attached to a bail 65 carryingra foot rest 66 from which the usual traction connections are made to the patients leg. The opposite ends of thebail 65 are 'journaledon bolted-8 mounted in il'ugs.:69 formed. on ferrules ll! which areslidinglyiadjustable Lon the sides 15 of. the splint frame; said bail being adapted to be secured in .adjust'edp'ositioniby means-of suitable winggnuts fil. T

The foot. rest fifi comprises a plateiconnectetl with the bail 65 by means of a pair of bolts 1-3 and nuts l4, one of which bolts also carries a hook -H for attachment of the cordlia, whilefor the. other .bolt "13 boththe plate. and i bail-are formed-with slots l:5 -and 16' respectively at an angle to each other; 'whereby'the foot-restmay be "adjusted angularly with referencez'to the first bolt, ;-and "thus clamped. in various :adjusted positions zasqrequ-ired.- The plate 66 is formed with side flanges- Bfl-rito which. are attached any appropriate :form :of buckles 8 I for the securing 10f :the tapes 82 comprising the conventional,forrnxofv adhesive hitch applied. 0 thepatients leg-(see FigureslandZ). I

.. The traction mea-nsfior the; thigh portion of the leg, comprises asi-milar-form of dynamometer 50 attached. by :anadjustable link iii and nut 62 to. the bracket structure. 5..4+55, and connected with a cord- 6'3 -which; is,-attachedby means :of a hook -84-to the middle portion of a plate 85, the

opposite ends of whichare equipped with suitable buckles :86 for thesecuring of the tapes 181 used for the adhesivehitch applied to 'the thigh, as

illustrated in Figures 1. and 2. I

Themethodeof applying and using the splint structurev is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The device is placed upon the bed..9ll and'conveniently secured thereto by means of a cord orother suitable fastening 9|, attached :to one of the cross bars 35 of the rocker frame,,-and in such position that the rockenportions 34' will underlie thefkneeof theleg to 'Which 'the splint frame is 'to beapplied. I

Afterfthe adhesive traction bandages .82 and B] have been'j'applied to thev leg, this is placed within th'e'fframework of the'splint,.,wh ich is provided with the usual padded strips of bands '92 for cradling the leg, as we'llasj witha suitable ipad 93 underlying the buttock and upper'part of the patients"thigh,-the lengthof'the thigh portion of the-splint frame having been adjusted and clampedb'y' means of the screws 25, and the foot rest fili' having also been adjusted to bringit into engagement with the foot of the patient the same 7 maybe tilted laterally the required extent by loosening and tightening of thenuts M to permit angular shiftin'gof the foot rest in an obvious manner. 'Suitable bands 95' are used for securing 2,052Q99o the upper rid. of thedsplint frame to the thigh or the patient.' p

The traction devices are then'con'nected to the foot rest member and to the; plate 85 '(if both are to be used), and then an appropriatedegree of tension is produced, by proper adjustment of the respective nuts 62, for effecting the proper indicated tractive pull fori extensionpurposes. In

, this connection it will benoted' that'the provision 0f the depression Him the plate 22 and'forming' the shoulder or abutment"28, together with the post 30, enables all the necessary traction to be applied to the thigh, without any tendency for the upon the pelvic rest or-s'eat; i

With this construction it is apparent that the patient is allowed a certain range of movement of "the different parts of his body, including the parts supported by the splint structure as this is permitted to rock upon the curved supporting portions 34' of the frame, without disturbing in the least degree the proper setting of the fractured parts.

One of the most important features of the improved apparatus is the fact that the pelvic seat or support 22 is formed as a rigid extension of the remainder of the splint frame, so that the rocking action takes place by a bodily movement of the whole splint structure as supported by said curved rocker portions, thereby insuring such a supporting action as will preserve complete and efiective immobilization of the fractured parts at all times,

while at the same time permitting any proper movement of the splint upon said support. This is evident from the location of the curved rocker portions of the frames 34 in a position underlying the knee portion of the splint, which results in a counterbalancing of the parts below and above the knee, so that any excess load or pressure upon the splint below the knee simply causes the upper portion of the splint frame to hug all the more closely the thigh and pelvic region of the patient,and vice versa. Moreover, it is of course obvious that the form and arrangement of said frames 34 is such that with the curved portions 34' projecting somewhat in a relation underlying the thigh portions of the splint frame, the normal tendency of the structure is to rock forward (1. e., toward the foot), with the result that this tends naturally to keep the thigh and pelvic portions of the splint frame raised against the corresponding thigh and pelvic regions of the patient.

Another important feature of advantage characterizing the improved apparatus is the ease and convenience with which the bed panservice may be carried out, since any lifting of the patients body (as by raising himself with the aid of a pull strap or the like) automatically rocks the splint structure and affords ample space beneath the patient for this service, and without any disturbance whatever of the fracture. Such freedom of movement of the patient, and the ability to shift his position safely from time to time for greater comfort also promotes the process of reduction of the fracture, with .a prospect for a more complete and earlier recovery than is possible with a completely passive state with its attendant bed sores and other complications.

A further feature of advantage with the improved construction is the possibility of employing the rocking splint as a lever, the lower end of which may be depressed for raising the patient, who may be too weak or feeble to offer any assistance in the use of the bed pan. Likewise, in bathing the leg, or other operations, such as changing the padding at the various points, the splint member may be rocked to produce sufiicient space between theleg and'splint parts-without disturbing the fractured parts.

In the event of the traction devices being dispensed with, in some cases, the frame member 39 andthe parts carried thereby may be readily removed from the brackets 38 in the manner already indicated (the cord 63 being disconnected from the foot rest), and the remainder of the appliance simply used as a supporting splint. The pivotal connection of said frame and brackets also enables the frame 39 to be swung entirely around to the under side of the splint frame for compact packing or storing of the appliance when not in use. j rtwm therefore be apparent that I have devised a practical and efficient splint construction and apparatus adapted to fulfill all the desired objects of my invention for the treatment of leg fractures; and while the foregoing in the light of the drawings submitted represents what is now regarded as the preferred form of embodiment of the improvements as well as method of practising the invention I desire to be understood as expressly reserving the right to make whatever changes or modifications may fairly be deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a splint construction for leg fractures, a splint structure comprising substantially rigid frame portions connected in fixed relation for embracing the leg both above and below the knee, and a pair of spaced rocker members connected with and underlying the knee portion of said frames and affording the same free rocking movement.

2. In a splint construction for leg fractures, a splint structure comprising a substantially rigid frame for embracing the leg both above and below the knee, a pelvic rest or seat in rigid relation to one end of said frame, and rockable supporting means connected with the knee portion of said frame and affording the same free rocking movement.

3. In a splint construction for leg fractures, a splint structure comprising a substantially rigid frame for embracing the leg both above and below the knee, a pelvic rest or seat adjustably connected in rigid relation to one end of said frame, and rockable supporting means connected with and underlying the knee portion of said frame and affording the same free rocking movement.

4. A splint construction for leg fractures comprising a splint structure having frame portions for embracing the leg both below and above the knee, said frame portions being connected for relative angular adjustment at the knee, and spaced rockable supporting structures connected with and underlying the knee portion of said first structure and affording the same free bodily rocking movement.

5. In a splint construction for leg fractures, a splint structure for embracing the leg both above and below the knee and provided with a pelvic seat or rest, and spaced rockable supporting means connected with and underlying the knee portion of said structure and affording the same free rocking movement.

6. In a splint construction for leg fractures, a splint structure for embracing the leg both above seat or; rest, having means for abutting engagement with-the patient in a directionto opDQse tractive-pull for extension purposes,; and rockable supporting means connected with and underlying thejknee portion of said structure andaffording the same ,ireerock-ing movement. v 7

7. A splint construction for leg fractures comprising a splint structure having frame-portions forembracing the leg both; above and below the knee,-and spaced rocker frames connected to said frame portions-in underlying supporting relation thereto and formed with curved-portionsconstituting rockers affording said splint structure free bodily rocking movement. a I

f5 J8. In a splint construction for leg fractures,

and below the knee, apelvic rest orseat in rigid relation to the thigh embracingportion of said.

frame, and supporting means connected with said frame and comprising frame members having rocker portions projecting; into underlying rela tion to said thigh embracing portion of the splint frame whereby the normal rocking tendency ofthe structure serves to raise the thigh and pelvic portions thereof toward the patient. I 7

9. In asplint construction for leg fractures asplint structure comprising a substantially rigid frame for embracing the leg both above and below the'knee, a; pelvic rest or seat in rigid-relation to one end of said frame, and supporting means connected with the knee portion of said frame in supporting relation thereto and affording the, same tree rocking movement.

JOHN R. SIEB AND'r; 

